Traffic-signal tower



s. c. HEPSHOLDT. TRAFFIC slam L TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. I919.

Patented Nov.

.s. c. RE PSHOLDT.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY [5, 1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 6..

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SOREN CHRISTIAN REPSHOLDT, 01F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL TOWER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoRnN CHRISTIAN tnrsnoLnr, a citizen of the United States oi America, residing at Omaha, in the county ofDouglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trailic-Signal Towers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in traffic signal towers es ecially adapted for street crossings provi ed with traffic signals readily operable by a crossing ofiicer positioned within or outside the tower.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a signal tower having novel means for the display of orders at diametrically opposite sides of the tower and viewable in the directions of the oncoming traffic.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an elevated tower at street intersections having improved means for actuating selectively a air of oppositely disposed crossin signa s.

With the above general objects in view and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination-and arrangement of parts herein-- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the device shownin Fig. 2 and clearly showing the operating connections for the signal members,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the signal members detached, the connecting member for the signal members belng broken away,

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the other signal member with a portion of the connecting member,

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgttgmtefil FLIN 23, 1920., Application filed July 15, 1919. 7

Serial No. 311,112.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon line VII-VTT of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View iilustrating somewhat diagrammatically a modification of the invention.

My invention broadly consists in a tower 10, of any suitable form in horizontal cross section, mounted upon the top of a tubular column or post 11 which is vertically positioned at a street crossing provided, as herein illustrated, with separate street car lines 12 and 13.

The tower 10, when the device is constructed for receiving an occupant, has a floor 14: positioned above and spaced from the bottom 15 of the tower, providing a chamber 16 between said floor and bottom. The inclosed portion 17 of the tower is connected to the root or dome 18 by four posts 19 providing window openings 20 between the posts.

An annular connecting member or ring 21 is rotatably mounted in the bead 22 provided in the lower portion of the tower 10, and this ring connects a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate signalplates 23 which conform in contour to that of the tower 10 and have the word (Jross or other equivalent order painted or otherwise placed thereon. The signal plates 23 are vertically slotted as at 24 intermediate their ends and are provided with lugs 25 to which are pivoted the signal arms 26' which have their inner ends disposed within the slots 24 and are prevented from swinging downwardly below a horizontal position by means of the stop lugs 27 provided on said signal plates! 23. The arms 26 have the Word Stop suitably placed thereon and may be swung upwardly to an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2 wherein they are suitably retained by such means as the latches 28.

A shaft 29 is journaled upright through the column 11 and floor 1 1 being provided with an operating handle 30 within the tower 10 for turning the shaft or being'con- Fig. 1 unintended for the accommodation of an occupant therein. The tower 10 is provided with four equally spaced radially arranged reflectors 32 having lamps 3S positioned therein so as to illuminate thesignals at night. Secured upon the shaft 29 within the chamber 16 is a pulley 34: having a flexible member'35 passed therearound, one

portion'of said cable being directed down-.

opposite direction, the same being attached as at 39 to the other signal plate 23. If

desired, the flexible member 35. may also extend between the points of connection 38 and 39 as at 35 in Fig. 7to insure simultaneous movement of the signal-plates 23 about the tower 10, in which case the member 21 may be formed in two arcuate pieces equal in length to the signal plate 23 to which the same is attached. By reason of the above construction, it will be seen that when the shaft 29 is rotated in one direction, the flexible member will move as indicated by the arrows "a in Fig. '4" so as to cause the arms 26 and plates 23 to rotate in the direction of the arrows Z) and thereby assume the position shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 7. "Vhen this is done, the street which was previously closed to traffic by having the stop signals 26 presented to view, is now open to traffic by having the cross signal plates 28 presented to view. Obviously, a reverse rotation of the shaft 29 will cause the signal to again assume its full line position as shown in Fig. 7.

For ventilation and other purposes, the tower 10 has an open top 39 which is substantially closed by a plate 40 disposed thereabove and fastened to the arch member 41 suitably mounted within theupper chamber 42 of the tower 10. A mechanism 43 not forming part of the present invention but specifically defined in my application filed on even date herewith is operatively connected with tie shaft 2950 as to operate a whistle or other audible alarm 44: whereby two impulses are given when the signal is set in one position and one is given when the signal is set in its other position.

Access may be .had to the interior of the tower 10 through the door closed openings 45'provided in the floor '14 and bottom 15, it being noted that the traffic 'o'fiicer or operator may mount the ladder 46 so as to gain this position from the ground.

In Fig. 8, a modified form of operating means for the signal plates 23 and arms 26 is shown which consists in fastening a large spur gear 47 upon the shaft 29, said gear i7 meshing with a pinion 4E8 suitably journaled in the chamber 16 and in turn meshing with a surrounding internal gear ring 49 rigidly fastened to the signal plates 23. By operatmg the wheel 50, it will be readily seen that the signal arms and plates may be rotated in one direction entirely instead of oscillated as is the case with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 to? inclusive.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the present invention will be read ily understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and while the forms of the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be the preferable embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A traffic signal tower adapted to be mounted at the intersection of streets and comprising a tower having curved cross signals arranged at opposite sides thereof and suitably mounted for movement thereabout, outwardly extending stop signals carried by said cross signals so as to move therewith, and means to simultaneously move said signals about said tower.

2. A trafiic signal tower adapted .to be mounted at the intersection of streets and comprising a cylindrical tower having curved cross signals arranged at opposite sides thereof and suitably mounted for movement thereabout, outwardly extending stop signals carried by said cross signals so as to move therewith, means to simultaneously move said signals about said tower, said stop signals being pivoted to said cross signals to swing upwardly to an inoperative position adjacent the tower, means to limit the outward and downward movement of said stop signals, and means to retain'said stop signals in their upward inoperative position.

3. A traffic signal tower including a tower adapted to be mounted at the intersections of streets, a shaft journaled upright in said tower, means to rotate said shaft, arcuate signal plates mounted to move about said tower, outwardly extending signal plates carried by said arcuate signal plates, and operative connections within said tower between said shaft and the arcuate signal plates. 7

i. A traffic signal tower including a tower having pair of oppositely disposed signal plates mounted to move thcreabout, outwardly extending radial signal plates carried by said first named signal. plates, a shaft journaled upright within said tower, a pulley mounted on said shaft, and a flexible member passed about said pulley and 0p eratively connected to said signal plates whereby rotation of said shaft will cause movement of the signal plates about said tower.

5. A trafiic signal including a tower having a pair of oppositely disposed-signal plates mounted to move thereabou't, outwardly extending radial signal plates carried by said first named signal plates, and means to simultaneously move said signal plates about the tower, whereby the sides of the second named signal plates will be seen by a 1 driver traveling in either direction upon one of a pair of intersecting streets While the first named signal plates will! be seen by a 1r driver on the other of said intersecting streets. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. SOREN CHRISTIAN REPSHQLDT. 

